New Publication Guidance on gene replacement therapy in Spinal Muscular Atrophy: a Canadian perspective
The NMD4C is proud to announce that a Guidance on gene replacement therapy in Spinal Muscular Atrophy: a Canadian perspective has been accepted for publication by the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. Notably this consensus statement is authored by NMD4C members Drs. Maryam Oskoui, Hernan Gonorazky, Hugh McMillan, James Dowling, Reshma Amin, Cynthia Gagnon, and Kathryn Selby.
This publication is the first significant research output of the NMD4C, and is a product of the network’s development, dissemination, and implementation of clinical guidelines working group. The working group invited pediatric neuromuscular clinical experts from across the country to provide feedback and direction in adapting existing consensus statements on gene replacement therapy in SMA to the Canadian context.
“It is an exciting time for the neuromuscular field with the advancement of gene therapies. It is our duty as neuromuscular specialists to advocate for safe, equitable, and transparent access to these treatments for all Canadians. We hope that through this consensus we can help inform the application, indication and use of gene replacement therapy in Spinal muscular atrophy.”
– Dr. Hernan Gonorazky.
You can find the publication here.
With three SMA therapies now commercially available in Canada, the working group set out to provide guidance by adapting a set of European consensus statements to a Canadian context and highlighting areas of future need for gene replacement therapy in SMA in Canada. The original publication from an ad-hoc group of 13 European SMA experts who published a set of consensus statements on the use of gene replacement therapy in SMA using a Delphi consensus process.
The NMD4C will continue to work towards its knowledge translation (KT) goals to improve care standards, train the next generation of neuromuscular researchers and clinicians, and strengthen research infrastructure for better research and more treatments.
Read next...
Save the Date: 2027 NMD4C-RARE.Qc Basic Science Research Summer School
NMD4C and RARE.Qc are pleased to announce the 2027 NMD4C–RARE.Qc Basic Science Research Summer School, will take place May 12-14, 2027, at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR). The Summer School will bring together graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career researchers for hands-on training workshops, scientific lectures, trainee presentations, networking opportunities, and engagement with leading experts in neuromuscular and rare disease research.
Congratulations to our 2026 Collaborative Research Training Award Recipients!!!
We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2026 NMD4C Collaborative Research Training Awards, which supports Canadian trainees in their efforts to advance neuromuscular disease research while strengthening national collaboration among neuromuscular research laboratories.
Announcing the 2027 Neuromuscular Clinical Fellowship Funding Recipients!
Together with Muscular Dystrophy Canada, we’re excited to share our 2027 Neuromuscular Clininacal Fellowship Funding Recipients; Dr. Larissa Maini (University of Calgary), Dr. Anna Branch (University of Ottawa) and Dr. Olumide Emmanuel Adegunna (University of Toronto)! This year’s competition provided one-year salary support ($80,000) for our early-career clinicians to participate in Canadian neuromuscular medicine and electromyography (EMG) fellowship training programs.